Cringe has become a popular word online. But do we know what cringe really is? Cringe remains closely related to awkward. Awkward is a catchall word for any situation that makes us feel uneasy, no matter how serious or trivial the situation is. After all, most of what we find online is ultimately trivial. Cringe…
Category: Otaku Culture
Considering Anime’s Moe Trend
Moe designs dominate anime nowadays. The designs focus on cute girls with overly large eyes–even by anime standards–rounded faces, and pastel colors in hair and clothing. I’ve defined what moe is, but for a brief review: moe is a feeling of affection and fondness someone has toward a fictional character. Character designers have hit on…
The Sleep Deprived Otaku
Sleep deprivation affects everyone at some point. I often find myself staying up far past what I should as I watch an engaging anime. Even a single night of messed up sleep has mental and physical consequences, especially as we age. Twenty-somethings to 30-somethings have the best ability to bounce back after poor sleep. Teens…
5 Steps to Living an Iki Life
I attempted to define iki already. The shorthand definition of iki is “refined, sophisticated.” Of course, refinement today has different connotations than during the Edo Period. Living an iki life doesn’t mean you have to sip wine while watching opera. Unless that is your thing. But why would you want to live an iki life…
3D Print Your Own Anime Figures
Why buy anime figures when you can make your own? 3D printers have dropped in price, so I decided to buy one to experiment with. I used it to make print blocks so I can play around with making my own ukiyo-e and other prints. My workflow involved drawing the design with ink, scanning it,…
3 Tips for Writing Better Fan Fiction
Fan fiction lets you practice writing without the difficulties of inventing characters, worlds, and more. It helps you build writing confidence and experiment. It also helps you learn the pleasures and frustrations of a creative life. However, many frown upon fan fiction as second rate writing. After all, fan fiction lacks quality. It lacks originality….